Gas producer



May 6,1930. 4 J, BECKER 1,757,232

GAS PRODUCER Filed Oct. 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 5Y Ti y 6, 1930. J. BECKER 1,757,232

' GAS fRoDUcER Filed Oct. 24, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V n9 V 70F f a I aezz Patented 1 May 6, 1930 oNi E-D STATES- PATENT orricr.

. JOSEPH BECKER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE KOPPERS COM} PANY, E PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA GAS PRODUCER Application filed Qctpber 24, 1923. I Serial No. 670,537.

This invention relates to improvements in gas producers, and more particularly to means for cooling the shaft thereof at the fire zone in a manner that will not cause premature deterioration of the metallic linings of the shaft, and the invention also relates to a simple, practical and economical arrangement'for utilizing the heat of said producer to produce both low pressure steam'and high pressure steam without impairing the efficient,

operation of the gas producer.

Objects of the invention are to provide a constant circulation of a cooling medium around the portion of the shaft to be cooled,

and at a temperature which will not cause condensation of steam from the blast on the inner linings of the gas producer shaft, and under pressure so that the warm cooling medium will not be converted into steam in the 0 cooling jacket; the provision of means for conducting such cooling medium,- after passing through the acket .to a low pressure steam :drum which supplies the cooling medium to the jacket; the provision of a.feed water inlet to said cooling circulating medium at a point in thesystem which will insure the preheating of the feed water so that such feed water will not reachthe jacket at a. temperature which will cause condensation on the metallic linings of the shaft; the provision of means for conducting a portion of such cooling medium, after passing through the jacket, to a high pressure steam boiler arrangedin the upper part of the gas producer, where it is not so essential to effect such a proper cooling, so that such water may be converted into high pressure steam and subjected to relatively prolonged heating without affecting the heating efiiciency of said gas producer; to provide a continuous circulation of water through the low pressure boiler and also the high pressure boiler with attendant conservation of heat; and such other objects and advantages of the invention as are found to obtain in the structure hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In order to make the invention more clearly.

understood there are shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical efiect, without limiting.

the improvements, in their useful applications, to the particular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation have been made the subject of illustration.

Insaid drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, partially diagrammatic in character, of a gas producer structure, illustrating the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View, partly diagrammatic, on a plane at right angles to Fig. 1, showing the producer in more detailed form. I l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of an end of one of the water tubes forming a part of the high pressure boiler and illustrating the method of connection to the annular chambers of said boiler.

Fig; 4 is'a diagrammatic horizontal sectiona'l view through a group of water tubes,

constituting one section of the high pressure boiler.

Re erring to the drawings; the producer shell is indicated as an entirety by the reference character 1, and is mounted upon a plurality of supporting frame members 2. The producer shell comprises an upper gas-col looting. and fuel charging chamber 3, enclosed by side walls 4 and a top wall 5, and a lower fuel chamber 6, communicating with the chamber. 3, and terminating at its lower portion in an annular wall or apron 7. An antuting the upper extremity of the gas-producing fuel chamber 6, is supported by the frame members 2 and serves as a structural reinforcing and supporting member for various portions of the producer structure. The fuel chamber 6 is provided at its lower portion with one or more openings 33 ngrmallyclosed by removable covers 34 and through which access may be had to the interior of the fuel chamber.

The top wall 5 of the chamber 3 is pro nular ring 8 of refractory material, constivided centrally thereof with a fuel charging hopper 9 having a removable' cover 10 actuated by an operating lever 11. The lower portion of the hopper 9 is normally closed ya removable annular sealing ring member 12 having a central orifice 13 normally closed by a removable valve member 14. The ring member 12 is mounted for vertical reciprocation with respect to the hopper by means of supporting links'l5, pivoted at their up.-

per ends to a U-shaped'yoke 16, which in of a link 19, pivoted at its upper end to one end of a lever 20. whichv in turn is pivoted at -21 to the wall of the hopper 9; the lever 20 terminating at its'outer end in'a suitably counterbalanced operating lever 22, similar to the lever 18 The charging hopper 9 and the various operating parts thereof are mounted in any desired manner at the top, of the producer and are preferably connecte to oneor more horizontal frame members 58. The-particular;means'of operating the feed of fuel to the ,hopper andthence to the producer, form s no part of the'presentinvention 4 known construction is contained within the and will not be further describedi The gas chamber 31is provided with any desired number of .outlet ports 31. serving as exits for the gasesgenerated within the producer and from which they may beconducted to any desired point.

- Arr-eccentric rotary step grate 36 of wen lower portion of the gas producing fuel chamber 6, the lower portion of which grate rests upon and is suitably secured to the base portion 37 of an annular ash pit 38, having a water. seal 39 therein to prevent the escape a of gases from the interiorof the producer. 1 The base portion 37 of the ash pit 38 contain-.

- base portion of the ash pit.

ing the grate 36 is anti-frictionally supported. for rotation upon a ball race40, which in turn rests upon an annular circular'track 41 rigidly mounted .upon the concrete base or foundation .42 of theproducer'sti'ucture.

The ash pit 38 together .withi 'rotary' step' enlarged at their ends and slightl smaller grate 36 is adapted to be rotated by external motor power arranged to drive a worm 43 meshing with a worm wheel 44 fixed to the Air-to support combustion within the' fuel chamber isadmitted through a header 45 embedded in the foundation and which communicates with an internal chamber 46 contained within the foundation below the grate.

: The air from the header 45 is diverted by a plate'or baflle 47 upwardly to theinte'rior of the grate 36, from whence it enters the chamber 6 through suitable apertures or orifices provided between the steps of and at thetop of the grate structure. The lower portion of the grate 3 6 is provided with an annular apron'48 which depends into a second water seal pit. 49 mounted in the foundation, the purpose of which is to prevent the escape of gases fromthe producer through the orifices or apertures in the grate. Water for supplying the seal 39 is admitted from without-the producer through a pipe 50 communicating with a header 50, which latter isprovided with a'valve-51; while water is supplied to the seal 49 through a branch pipe 52 com municating at its upper end with the header 50 and adapted at its lower end to communicate with a pipe 53, connected by unions 55 with the water seal 49. The upper end of the pipe 53 isnormally closedby a removable cover54. Access to the interior of the chamber 46 is obtained by means of a tunnel 56 terminating'in the wall of the foundation or base and normally closed by 'aremovablecover plate 57. r I Mounted within the chamber 3 above the flfuel chamberfi and suitably supported by the walls ofthe producer shell is a high pressuresteam and water boiler designated as an entirety at 23. In its present form the boiler 23 consists of upper and lower annular concentric chambers 24 and 25, anda plurality of-intermediate inclined connecting water tubes 26 arranged to present a maximumheatabsorbing area to the interior of the fuel chamber 6. The annular chamber 25 is supported by the upper portion of thewalls of the fuel chamber and. the chamber 24 is in turn supported and spacedfrom the-chamber 25 bymeans of an annular frame member or, 9

Wall 27 The chambers 24 and 25 are further reinforced by concentric rings 28 and 29 and a plurality of ring members 30, the latter being arranged at intervals around the upper and lowerchambers.

' "As best seen in Figs. 2 and 4, the water tubes 26 are arranged in eight groups around the peripheriesof the annular chambers 24 and 25, sa d groups. being spaced from one -anotl1er by the-reinforcing ring elements 30.

In Fig. 3 is illustrated the manner of conneetion of the water tubes 26 to the annular boller chambers 24 and 25. The tubes 26 are in diameter than the apertures in the walls of the chambers 24 and 25 and are suitably beaded over the metal of the chambers to with this invention thecirculating cooling medium, usually water, is suppliedto the jacket'ata temperaturewhich willjnot cause condensation of steam from the blast on the inner metallic linings at the ash zone. Such condensation of steam on the inner linings of the shaft takes up the H S to form a destructive solution which is further assisted by thehe'at of the fire zone and the vapors arising in the usual water. pan and causes premature deterioration of said linings. By maintaining a cooling medium in circulation about the portions of the shaft to becooled at a temperature about the boiling point of water,

the steam will not be condensed, and yet the be raised thereby providing a better cooling temperature at this portion of the shaft; This jaeket 32 is connected with the horlzoneffect, and also preventing formation of steam, which is diflicult to regulate and also is not desirable because steam may be heated to much higher temperatures than water without necessarily circulating, and of course such heating of steam would notcool the shaft down to 212 F. as it would have a higher tal flange 35 of the annular wall or apron 7.

Communicationis established between the jacket 32 and the high pressure steam boiler 23 by means of a pipe 59 communicating at one end at 60 with the upper portion ofthe boilerjacket 32 and communicating at its other end at 61 with the upper chamber-24 of the high pressure boiler 23. A. high pressure pump 62 is interposed in the line of the pipe 59 and serves to insure an adequate supply of fluid from the low pressure boiler jacket 32 to the high pressure boiler 23. A valve 63 is further provided in the pipe line 59 above the pump 62, the purpose of which is to control 'tl1e flow of fluid from the boiler 32 through the line 59 to the pump 62. The pipe line 59 is further provided at a point preferably adjacent the boiler 32, with a branch line 64 communicating at its upper end at 65 with a low pressureboiler or drum 66 suitably carried in any desired and preferred manner outside of the producer structure at a height to provide a suflicient head to supply adequate pressure to the water to prevent formation of steam ings aid jacket 32. In this drum 66 the hot water from the jacket may expand into steam to provide low pressure steam which may be conducted to the grate of the producer. A return pipe 67 is, provided to insure a return flow of fluid from the drum- 66 to the boiler jacket 32, the lower end of the pipe 67 communicating at 68 with the lower portion of the jacket. I

The feed-water to the inter-communicating boiler system described is admitted through a pipe 69 at a point preferably immediately below the low pressure steam drum 66, at

which point the feed-water is thoroughly mixed withthe hot water returning from the low pressure drum 66 to the boiler a'cket 32.

The system of circulation of water and steam through the high and low pressure boilersystem above described during the operation of the producer is as follows:

' Warm'water which is further heated in the low pressure boiler jacket 32 by the heat generated in the fuel chamber 6 and there- ,to combine with the incandescent fuel in the chamber 6-t0 facilitate the combustion and thegeneration of gases therefrom. Part of the heated water from the upper portion ofv the boiler jacket 32 is'forced by the high pressure pump 62 through thepipe line 59 and utilized to supply the high pressure boiler 23 located around the upper portion of the producer. The heated water which is not eX-- panded into steam in the low pressure drum 66 is returned to the boiler 32 by means of the return pipe 67,- thereby maintaining a continuous circulation of water between the boiler 32 and drum 66. The feed-water supply to the'system .is admitted through the pipe 69 to the pipe 67 where it is thoroughly mixed with the'return flow of heated'water from the low pressure drum 66, and the disadvantage of having cold'water admitted to the boiler jacket 32 isthereby effectually pre-' vented.-

The location and construction of the high pressure boiler 23 is such that steam under high pressure isfexpanded in the same by the intense heat genera d in the fuel chamber, and the steam so gen rated may attain a much higher temperature than the water inathe jacket because the problem of cooling down'is not present at the upper-part of the producer as it is in the lower part and suchheating may be attained without affecting the operah 1 tion of the producer and with a great saving in heat. The steam can be conducted from the boiler 23 through the pipe 71 and utilized for any desired purpose. It will-be apparent that I have afforded a means of pre-heating the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

What I claim is:

1. In a gas producer, in combination with j a rotary grate and fuel charging device: a fuel chamber abovesald grate; a water jacket surrounding said fuel chamber; abigh pres sure boiler mounted above said fuelchamber and within the producer shell; a low pressure steam drum mounted without said producer for expanding into steam a portion of the fluid from water jacket; fluid conducting 1. fl id from said jacket to said boiler; andfluid 'mentioned fluid conducting means combining means connecting said jacket to said drum; ,fluid conducting means connecting said acket to said boiler; means for forcing fluidfror said jacket to said boiler; return fluid con ducting means connecting said drum to said connecting with said latter mentioned return fluid conducting means and disposed below ducer for expanding into steam a portion of i h the heated fluid from said jacket; fluid conducting. means connecting said jacket to said drum; fluid conducting means connecting -said jacket to said boiler; means for forcing conducting means connecting said drumto said jacket for returning to said jacket a portion of the fluid from said drum, said latter with a fluid feed inlet, whereby the liquid supply to said jacket is mixed with the return fluidfrom'said drum, substantially as sped-- .'3.- In a gas produeer;-incombination'z-a :fuel chamber; a water jacket adjacent said fuel chamber for absorbing heat therefrom; l a a jhigh pressure boiler vadjacent said fuel' ,gdychii'rhber for, absorbing heat therefrom; a low pressure steamdrum without the producer for expanding into steam a portion of the r heated fluid from said jacket 'fluid'conductingmeansiconnecting said jacket to said d means for'eflecting delivery of water fromsaid' jacket to said boiler; return fluid conducting means connecting said drum to said jacket for'returning tothe latter a portion-of the fluid from saiddrum; and means for conducting to any desired points'j'thesteam'expanded in said high pressure boiler and said low pressure drum, substantially as specified. 1 U 1 i 4. In a gas producer, in combination: a fuel chamber; a cooling 'acket adjacent said fuel chamber for absorbing heat therefrom;

a 'high pressure boiler adjacent said fuel chamber for absorbing heat therefrom; a low pressure steam drum .withouttheproc0 ducenfor expanding into steam a-portion of V the fluid vf m said jacket; fluid conducting means 'connecting the upper part ofs'aid jacket to said low pressure steam 'drum near but belowlthe water level therein; fluidconcs rlnctingmelans connecting the upper part of jacket for returning to said jacketa portion; of the fluid from said drum, a fluid feed inlet adapted to be heated from said fuel chamber; a low. pressure steam drum-without the prosaid jacket .to said boiler; means for effecting delivery of water from said jacket to said boiler; fluid conducting means connecting the lower part of-said drum-to the lower'part of said, jacket for returning to the latter a portion of the fluid from said drum; and a fluid feed inlet connected to said latter-mentioned fluid conducting means, whereby the fluid .supply to said jacket is mixed with the return fluid from said drum, fled.

-5. In a gas producer; in combination: a fuel chamber, a water jacket surrounding substantially as specisaid fuel chamber and adapted to be heated thereby; a high pressure water tube boiler mounted above said fuel chamber; a low pressure'steam 'drummounted without the pro; ducer and connected to said water jacket and adapted to expand into steam a portion of the heated water received from said' jacket; means connecting said jacket to said high pressure watertube boiler; means for fqrcing a portionof the water from said water jacket to said high. pressure boiler; and means connecting said low pressure steam drum to said water jacket for returning to said jacket a-portion of the water from said steam drum, said-latter mentioned connecting means having connected theretoafeed-watel' inlet for thoroughly mixing the feed supply to said steam and water jacket with the return waterfrom said low stantially as specified.

pressure drum,-sub- 6. A gas producer structure, comprising ashell carrying at its lower portion a water jacket surrounding the fuel'chamber of the producer; and within its upper portion a high pressure water boiler;1means externally of the gas producer for circulating fluid 'be- 'tween said water jacket. and 'said' boiler;

means for promoting 'the flow of fluid fromsaid water jacket to'said boiler through said circulating means; a low pressure steam drum connected for thermo-syphonic circulav tion with said water jacket; and means for conducting steam from said boiler and said drum,'substantia y asspecified.

7 A gas prod cer'structure, comprising a shell having at} its lower portion a water acket; and, carrying within its upper portion a high pressure, boiler; means for circulating fluid between said water jacket and said boiler; means for actively promoting the flow of'fluid from said water jacket'to said high pressure boiler through said circulating means; alow pressure steam-drum mounted without said shell and entirely above said water jacket, means for conducting a heated flu'idifrom the upper portion of said water jacket to said low" pressure steam drum;

means for conducting fluidof lesser temperature fIOIIlSiIld low pressure steam drum' to the lower portion of said water jacket,.said latter fluid conducting means being also connected to a source of fluid supply, whereby a continuous thermo-syphonic circulation'is maintained between said water jacket and said-low pressure drum and whereby. a con tinuous supply of preheated water may be maintained from said water jacket to said boiler, and means for conveying steam from said drum and said'boiler, substantially as 8. In a gas producer, in combination with a fuel charging means and a rotary grate; av

shell having at its lower portion a hot water 'jacket,'and carrying within its upper portion a high pressure steam boiler, means for oir-.

jacket and'said low pressure drum, and a forced'circulation is effected from said water jacket to said boiler at atemperature which will not cause condensation on the inner 'linings of the shaft, and means for conveying steam from said drum and said boiler, substantially as specified.

9. A gas producer having in combination: a fuel chamber, a cooling jacket. surrounding said chamber, a'low pressure steam drum,'.

connections between said vjacket and drum providing for thermo-syphonic circulation of heated cooling water therebetween; a high.

' pressure boiler mounted within the upper portion of the producer above said fuel chamber, means for effecting diversion of a portion of the cooling medium, after passing through said jacket, from said thermo-syp onic circulation system to said high pressure boiler,

where said cooling medium is converted into high pressure steam.

10. Ina gas producer, in combination: a generator shell, a hot water jacket carried by the lower portion of said shell, a high pressure boiler mounted within the'upper portion of said shell and communicating with saidwater jacket, means for promoting fluid flow from said water jacket to said high pressure boiler, a low pressure steam drum mounted without said'shell, means for circulating fluid between said drum and said water jacket, andme'ans for separately con ducting to any desired points steam from said high pressure boiler'aud said dru m jubstan tially as specified.

1 1. A cooling utilization n for gas producers, comprisingin combination with a gas producerfhaving a fuel chamber:

ametallic water jacket surrounding said fuel chamber; a steam drum disposed externally ofsaid gas producer and having a space therein for the expansion into steam of a portion of the water fed therein from said water jacket; means for conducting a portion of the water from said water jacket to said steam drum, means for returning to said water jacket the non-expanded water in said drum; a high pressure steam boiler mounted above said fuel chamber for expanding into 'steamwater conducted thereto from said water acket; means for effecting delivery of a portion of the water from said water jacket to saidhigh pressure steam boiler and means for admitting feed water to the water jacket and steam drum circulation system only at a point where the feed water is thoroughly mixed with water returning to said jacket from said' steam drum. I 12. In a gas producer, in combination: a substantially cylindrical gasgenerator shell having a chargingopening in, its topand a fuel bed space below said charging opening and having in its upper portion a gas ofli'take and a high pressure boiler located entirely within the space between the charging opening and the fuel bed space, and'having a water preheater separate from andinde 'pendent of said high pressure boiler surrounding the lower portion of'said fuel bed space and connected with-said high pressure boiler for feedingv preheated water thereto; said high pressure boiler comprising a lower annular boiler chamber disposed directly above said fuel bed space, an upper annular boiler chamber disposed directly belowsaid charging opening and above and substan-" tially concentric with respect to said 'lower annular boiler chamber, and a plurality of water tubes connecting said upper and lower annular boiler chamber, whereby the fuel I charged into said fuel be'd space passesthrough and out of contact withsai'd upper and lower annular boiler chambers.

I 13. In agas'producer, in combination: a

substantiallytcylindrical gas generatorshell havinga charging opening in its top and a fuel bed space below said charging opening and having inits upper portion a gas oiftake and a high pressure boiler located entirely within the space between the charging opening" and the fuel bed space,-and-having a water preheaterseparate from and inde-} pendent of said high pressure boiler surrounding the lower portion of said fuel bed spaceandconnectedwith said high pressure boiler for feeding preheated water thereto; said'hi'gh pressure boiler comprising a lower annular boiler chamber; an upper annular boilerichamber of shorter annulusthan said lower boiler chamber disposed above and obnycentrically; withfsaid lower boiler chamber,

and aplurality: of water tubes connecting said upper and lower boiler chambers,- said .tubes being arranged in cups arcund the t peripheries of said boilerc amberstopresent a maximum of heating surface to the gas flowing 01f from the producer, whereby the A fuel charged into said fuel bed space passes 7 through and out of contact with said upper and'lower annular boiler chambers. 1

JOSEPH BECKER. 

